The No. 10 Washington Huskies (+21) are heading south to face their conference rival UCLA Bruins at Rose Bowl. Fans can catch the action live on FOX and the opening kickoff is pegged for 7:30 p.m. ET.
Betting Preview: Washington Huskies at UCLA Bruins
Washington is significantly favored here and is currently giving up 21 points to UCLA. Oddsmakers have placed the over/under (O/U) at 50.5 points. If one side can create a bunch of points early, it’ll likely create a worthy live betting scenario.
Early action has slanted toward the over. This game’s total was placed initially at 49.5.
The Huskies are 2-3 against the spread (ATS) and have gained 2.0 units so far in 2018. They’ve been a good under bet and have posted an Over-Under record of 0-5.
The disappointing Bruins have lost 9.3 units this season. The team is 1-3 ATS and has an O/U record of 1-3.
The Huskies are 4-1 straight up (SU), including 2-0 SU against conference opponents. The Bruins are 0-4 SU overall and are also 0-1 SU in conference play.
The Huskies are coming off a resounding 35-7 victory over BYU last week where Jake Browning completed 23 passes on 25 attempts for 277 yards and one touchdown. Myles Gaskin (81 yards on 14 rush attempts, one TD) and Salvon Ahmed (86 yards on 10 carries, two TDs) led the ground attack while Aaron Fuller (eight receptions, 107 yards) and Drew Sample (five catches, 37 yards, one TD) manned the receiving duties in the win.
UCLA just fell 38-16 to Colorado. The defense allowed the Buffaloes to eat up the clock by running for 209 yards on 48 rush attempts, including four rush TDs. Laviska Shenault Jr. had a productive outing in the win, posting a rushing score to go along with 126 yards and a score on 12 catches for Colorado. For UCLA, Dorian Thompson-Robinson completed 17-of-35 passes for 138 yards and one touchdown. Joshua Kelley (124 rushing yards on 12 attempts) led the running game while Demetric Felton (three receptions, 49 yards) and Theo Howard (three catches, 19 yards) led the pass-catching attack in the loss.
Each squad has a similar run-pass ratio on the season. Washington has run the ball on 55.3 percent of its offensive possessions while UCLA has an overall rush percentage of 53.4. Having said that, the Huskies have produced 165.4 rush yards/game (including 171.5 per game versus Pac-12 opponents) and have nine touchdowns on the ground this year. The Bruins haven’t been quite as successful, as they’re putting up 135.8 rushing yards per game and have five total rush TDs.
Judging by the early season results, it seems like the Huskies should have an advantage when it comes to effectiveness in the ground game. Their running backs has produced 4.5 yards per carry while the defense is allowing a YPC of 3.6 to opponents. The Bruins have tallied 3.9 yards per carry and given up a YPC of 3.9 to opponents.
The Huskies offense has logged 273.4 yards per contest through the air overall (178.5 per game against conference opposition) and has nine passing scores so far. The Bruins have produced 176.3 pass yards per outing and have three total pass TDs.
Washington seems to possess an edge in both defensive facets. The team has let opponents run for an average of 125.8 yards and pass for 155.2 yards per game. The UCLA defense has allowed 238.5 yards per game to opposing passers and 183.0 yards per game to opposing runners. The Huskies are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 4.19 to opposing QBs, while the Bruins have allowed a 7.60 ANY/A.
Browning has been more productive than Thompson-Robinson recently, as his adjusted net yards per pass attempt sits at 7.26for the year (and 11.10 over the last two games). Thompson-Robinson’s ANY/A is 4.72 for the season and 3.37 over his past two outings.
When these two squads faced each other last year, Washington knocked UCLA off by three touchdowns 44-23.
Washington Huskies at UCLA Bruins Betting Pick
SU Winner: UCLA, ATS Winner: UCLA, O/U: Under
Team Betting Notes
- The Washington defensive unit has sacked opposing QBs eight times this year. UCLA has registered seven sacks.
- Both teams have lost two fumbles this year.
- The Huskies offense has registered four pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Bruins have accounted for three such plays.
- The Washington defense has allowed zero pass plays of 40+ yards, while UCLA has given up five such plays.
- The Washington offense has created 10 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while UCLA has created four such runs.
- Both teams have allowed two rushing plays of 20 or more yards. The Huskies have given up 16 running play of 10+ yards while the Bruins have given up 23 such plays.
- UCLA was favored by 10 points in its previous matchup and the O/U going into it was 57.5. The under cashed and UCLA failed to cover in that 38-16 defeat to Colorado.
- In its last three games, UCLA is 1-2 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- In its last three contests, Washington is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in each of those three.
- Washington was favored by 19 points in its last game and the Over/Under was set at 47.5. The under cashed and Washington covered in the 35-7 triumph over BYU.
- Washington has averaged 4.52991452991453 yards per rush attempt over its last three games and 4.7 over its last two.
- UCLA has averaged 3.7 yards per carry over its last three outings and 4.6 over its last two.
